College of Marin plans $6 million budget increase

Banking on the windfalls of an improved economy, the Marin Community College District Board of Trustees is expected to approve a new budget Tuesday that's $6 million richer than the previous year's.

The tentative budget being sent to the board projects $71.1 million in total general fund expenditures. That includes $49.3 million in unrestricted funds — the money the officials can divvy as they see fit —$1.2 million in community services expenses, and nearly $20.7 million in restricted funds, which must go toward allocated programs.

Last year, the college operated on a $65.1 million budget, with $46.4 million in unrestricted funds, according to the tentative budget report. The increased revenue should help the district return to its funding levels prior to the economic crash in 2008 that led to rampant cost-cutting from 2009 to 2012.

"One of the biggest challenges the college has faced financially is that it makes it really difficult for the faculty and staff to focus on our main mission," board president Stephanie O'Brien said. The increased money "puts us in a position to breathe and really start focusing on replenishing some of the things that have been taken away. Now, we can continue moving forward rather than being stuck."

The district, which serves the College of Marin's main campus in Kentfield and the Indian Valley Campus in Novato, is getting a 5 percent bump in its supplemental taxes income from the county; a 1 percent increase from taxes on non-fixed assets such as boats and RVs, and a 1 percent increase in revenue from prior-year property taxes.

And after receiving $106,000 last year from the state for deferred costs, the district is expected to receive $700,000 for 2014-15, said Greg Nelson, the district's vice president of finance and college operations.

"It's the largest deferred maintenance allocation the district has received in 10 years," Nelson said. "It's very widely needed, between the facilities department and for the individual student programs on the campuses, for their equipment needs."

Despite a dip in the number of college employees, the bulk of the increased revenue will go toward salaries and benefits, which account for 87 percent of the budget's expenses. The district will be contributing more to retirement programs, medical benefits and staff salaries, and it is in negotiations with the faculty union over a new contract.

The rest of the budget increase will go mostly toward operating expenses, such and water and electricity bills, which Nelson estimates to increase by 5 percent from last year.

The district employed 354 people last year. But many of them took advantage of an incentive-laden retirement package offered by the district, initially dropping the number to 315. College officials did not have the total number of employees immediately as classes started Monday, but 19 recent hires brings the number to at least 334.

Census numbers aren't in yet for the fall semester, but college officials expect the student body to continue its decline in numbers. Last fall, the two campuses enrolled 6,620 students, including 1,600 full-time. In fall 2009, enrollment was at 7,460, including 1,174 full-time, according to college records.

The meeting is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Kentfield campus's student services center, in the staff lounge.